DMUC Zoning

The Downtown Mixed-Use Core Overlay (DMUC), approved by Burlington voters on November 8, 2016, codifies many of the central goals of planBTV Downtown & Waterfront, and requires that new development in this part of downtown achieves a higher public benefit. Here are some of the key ways in which the DMUC will improve development outcomes within this part of downtown:

Previous "Downtown" Zoning

Approved "DMUC Overlay" Zoning

Purpose for the change

Other Details

Height

65 Ft. Maximum "by right," up to 105 Ft. Maximum using bonuses

160 Ft. Maximum "by right"

planBTV identified core of downtown as appropriate for taller buildings; current bonus system is not utilized to achieve community benefits

DMUC allows buildings 4 stories and 55 Ft. higher than the previous zoning, a difference less than the height of the steeple recently replaced on the College Street Congregational Church. The DMUC maximum height is only 25 Ft. taller than the existing Masonic Temple on Church Street.

Floor Area Ratio- FAR (FAR is a multiple of a site's area)

Up to 8.0 FAR (Or, for every 1 Sq.Ft. of land area, there can be 8 Sq.Ft. of building on the land)

Up to 9.5 FAR (Or, for every 1 Sq.Ft. of land, there can be 9.5 Sq.Ft. of builidng on the land)

Permit appropriate massing of buildings in the district consistent with the proposed height.

This allows 12% more building area in the whole overlay district than previously allowed. However, on the Burlington Town Center site, this permits 12% less building area than the old zoning due to the creation of two new street segments.

Prescriptive, objective design requirements consistent with the proposed Form Based Code; more predictable design outcomes for project applicants and for the community

Achieve more community goals for active, vibrant, economically viable streets.

Because the Burlington Town Center site represents such a large redevelopment opportunity in downtown, the urban design standards are critical to ensure that new development activates the streets, and that there are no long, continuous blank walls.

Parking

No restrictions as long as in compliance with Article 8 of the CDO

Prohibits surface parking; requires parking structures to be underground, behind a liner building, or above an active ground floor; requires parking at the edges of a building to be indistinguishable from other floors of a building; requires participation in a parking management district

Visible parking in front of buildings and/or visible from a pedestrian's perspective is highly detrimental to vibrant, active streets

Stormwater

Manage stormwater runoff from 50% of new impervious surfaces

Manage stormwater runoff from 100% of new impervious surfaces

To address pollution, highest priorities are to slow down and reduce amount of stormwater runoff reaching Lake Champlain

Green Buildings

Not required

New development and substantial redevelopment required to be LEED Gold Certified, or a nationally recognized equivalent

Buildings in this district should achieve the highest degree of energy efficiency and environmentally-sensitive design

Mixed Use

Encourages mixed-use through optional bonuses

New projects are required to include both residential and non-residential uses

Significant new buildings should include a mix of uses to support the vision of planBTV

District Boundaries

All properties between Pearl, Main, Battery and Winooski (except City Hall Park)

Applies only to Burlington Town Center properties (including the L.L. Bean building), the Free Press Building, Macy's Building, and College Street and Lakeside garages (City-owned)

planBTV identified this part of downtown as appropriate for taller buildings; closely aligns with Form Based Code Committee's area for taller buildings

The DMUC district applies to 8.7 acres of downtown, which is about 12% of the total downtown district. It applies to 7 properies and 4 property owners.

Official Map

Indicates new City Street connections at St. Paul and Pine Streets between Bank and Cherry Streets

Gives the City legal authority to exercise its right to purchase property from a land owner before development can be approved

The reconnection of St. Paul and Pine Streets was a very ambitious goal set forth in planBTV Downtown & Waterfront; this change gives the City a tool through which this could become a reality.